Servers make all the difference to your guests. Photo by Happy Buddy PhotoArt.
This is not the first thing you think about when you are planning a wedding or other large event where you are hiring a caterer, but it is surprisingly important in how well your event runs: How much staff has your caterer hired?
Caterers tend to fall into two categories with regard to staffing issues. On one side, you have caterers who reduce the number of staff in order to give you a bid with a lower price. On the other side, you have those who won’t compromise their level of customer service and charge accordingly.
Why does this matter to you and how can you tell the difference?
The service staff at your party or event are the people who have the most direct contact with your guests. Really, the quality of the service staff determines the quality of the experience for your guests. The unfortunate things that guests remember are that no one offered them wine or they got the wrong entree or they could never find a server to refill their glass or bring a fork when they needed one. Inadequate numbers of servers can contribute to all of these types of incidents that leave a bad taste in the mouth.
For restaurant service, it’s pretty standard to have one server for every 40 guests. For exceptional service, such as at a wedding, a higher number of servers is needed. The best wedding caterers hire about one server for every 10 guests. This ensures the best service. When you get a quote from a catering company, divide the total number of guests by the number of servers and see what you get. If it’s around 10, the price will certainly be higher than if it’s 40. The service is also likely to be much better.
It’s a trade-off: If you pay less for service, you are paying for a less-than-exceptional experience for your guests. I think it’s worthwhile to pay more to ensure that your guests are enjoying themselves. There are places to cut corners at a wedding or a party, but this isn’t one of them.
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